Robert G URBAN, Ph.D.

Robert is Head of the Johnson & Johnson Innovation. He joined the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was the founding Executive Director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. In this role, Robert worked to build the Koch Institute into a new standard for interdisciplinary disease-focused research via an expanding, highly-effective, relationship network with other academic oncology centers, industrial partners, cancer-focused philanthropists and investors. During Robert’s tenure, the Koch Institute launched 17 start-up companies and its technology was the source of more than 50 out-licensing transactions.

Robert was recruited to MIT from Acretia Inc. – a product acquisition and out-licensing company where he was the President and CEO. During his time at Acretia Inc. the organization conducted technical due diligence on more than 280 product opportunities and completed the acquisition of three distinct product lines.

Prior to this, Robert held a variety of business development and clinical development roles in the pharmaceutical industry. He has worked in the areas of oncology, HPV, anti-inflammatory and infectious diseases. His experience includes clinical product development, operations oversight, licensing and acquisitions, capital fund raising, company creation, and building relationships with key thought-leaders.

Robert received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Microbiology and his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Texas system, and was an Irvington Fellow in structural immunology at Harvard University.